Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance outlining the recommendation of the Bradwell B Power Station Working Group (the Working Group) that a letter of support for the ongoing development of Small Medium Reactors (SMR) be sent to John Whittingdale OBE MP and to Stephen Speed, Director of Nuclear at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The report provided background to the Government’s announcement in 2010 that Bradwell was one of the eight sites it considered suitable for the siting of a nuclear power station and the consultation undertaken by Bradwell B Power Generation Company Limited (BRB).  It was noted that whilst the adopted Local Development Plan (LDP) strongly supported the principle of development of a new nuclear power station at Bradwell the Council had resolved to reconsider this position at the next planned review of the LDP.

Members were informed that SMRs were a type of nuclear reactor smaller than conventional reactors and how a consortium led by Rolls Royce had been developing proposals for a SMR that it hoped to introduce to the nuclear market in the coming years.

The Working Group at a recent meeting had considered that SMR technology could have advantages when compared with the conventional nuclear technology, as smaller units could have less environmental impacts, be quicker to install and potentially easier to finance.  The Working Group had therefore proposed that the Council consider sending a letter of support.

Following an introduction to the report by the Leader of the Council and Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance, the Chairman of the Council proposed that the Officers’ recommendation be approved.  This was duly seconded.

Some Members raised concern regarding sending the letter, whilst others supported it.  Reference was made to the Bradwell B proposals and the potential impact this would have on the District.

The Chairman then put the recommendation as set out in the report.  In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor M G Bassenger requested a recorded vote and this was duly seconded.  The voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors Miss A M Beale, B S Beale, Mrs P A Channer, M R Edwards, A L Hull, J V Keyes, C P Morley, R H Siddall, N J Skeens, C Swain, Mrs M E Thompson and Miss S White.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, A S Fluker, J W Jarvis, K M H Lagan, C Mayes, C Morris, S P Nunn, N G F Shaughnessy, W Stamp and J Stilts.

Abstention:

Councillor M S Heard.

The Chairman declared that the recommendation was therefore agreed.

RESOLVED a letter of support for the ongoing development of Small Medium Reactors be sent to John Whittingdale OBE MP and to Stephen Speed, Director of Nuclear at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.